The Death Farmer
By Theresa C. Newbill
Part seven of nine


Old woman Clara likes to keep the furniture of her home covered in burlap sacks. Dead flies inhabit her cat Rowan's milk bowl. Her dining room table smells of rotted wood yet she sits there stitching loopholes around a white and blue cloth. Further examination shows the cloth holds a picture of Kelly Anderson on one side and her son Steve Padula on the other. Seven ritual candles of various colors are placed strategically around the round table. Old woman Clara mutters an incantation while busy at work, stitching.

Oh, Seven Great Powers, you who are so close to our divine Spirit,
with great humility I implore your intercession.
Hear my petition and grant them peace.
Oh Olofi, I trust in the words "ask and you shall receive". Let it be so!

The smell of burnt candles and incense mixes in with the musty smell of wet burlap. And old Clara is absorbed by all of it.

***

Father Oliviere feels severe stomach pains. He sits up in bed, still asleep, and gasps.

"Bless me Father for I will sin, it's been a very long time since I've been to confession."

Father Oliviere sees Alan's Parker's face blend into his own, as the image starts to appear smaller then bigger and bigger until he has a clear visual of Kelly, Steve and little Sarah, in flames, reaching out to him.

He awakens, runs to the bathroom and throws up.

***

Kevin is pacing back and forth in his room holding a picture of his little sister Sarah.

"Isn't she beautiful, Kevin? Your baby sister, red hair and all." Kelly reaches out to Kevin with one hand and pulls him closer to her hospital bed. Sarah is peacefully sleeping by her side.

"She's got red hair, like me, something to taunt Mitchell with. My baby sister is just like me."

A serious look flashes through Kelly's face as she pulls her son sharply next to her so that they are nose to nose.

"She is your sister, Kevin. Do you understand? She is your sister."

Kevin is in a state of shock and fear but replies, "I understand, mom. I understand."

Alan and Steve arrive at the hospital at the same time and run into each other as they enter the room. Shaking hands they greet one another amicably but Steve's presence is unnerving.

"So why are you here mate?"

"I came to visit a friend and her newly born baby girl, and as the humble firefighter that I am, I came to congratulate my boss, the man on the board of fire commissioners. Look at her, such a doll, " he says as he takes closer steps to baby Sarah, "She has red hair, like me."

***

Mitchell is sleeping soundly in his room. It took him awhile to adapt to the new home which is a lot smaller than the Parker estate was. A breeze flows gently through the open window and the moonlight is shining in upon his face. There seems to be no special reason why the light should focus on him. But it does.


- - -
Theresa C. Newbill is a is a self described free spirit and former elementary school teacher turned writer. Her work has been widely published in various print and online magazines and she has received numerous awards for her writing.